Chapter
II.—Valentinian goes into the West; Valens remains at
Constantinople, and grants the Request of the Macedonians to hold a
Synod, but persecutes the Adherents of the
‘Homoousion.’

Of the emperors one, i.e.
Valentinian, speedily went to the western parts of the empire; for the
exigencies of affairs required his presence thither: meanwhile Valens,
residing at Constantinople, was addressed by most of the prelates of
the Macedonion heresy, requesting that another Synod might be convened
for the correction of the creed. The emperor supposing they agreed in
sentiment with Eudoxius and Acacius, gave them permission to do so:
they therefore made preparations for assembling in the city of
Lampsacus. But Valens proceeded with the utmost despatch toward Antioch
in Syria, fearing lest the Persians should violate the treaty into
which they had entered for thirty years in the reign of Jovian, and
invade the Roman territories. They however remained quiet; and Valens
employed this season of external tranquillity to prosecute a 97war of extermination against all who
acknowledged the homoousion. Paulinus their bishop, because of
his eminent piety, he left unmolested. Melitius he punished with exile:
and all the rest, as many as refused to communicate with Euzoïus,
he drove out from the churches in Antioch, and subjected to various
losses and punishments. It is even affirmed that he caused many to be
drowned in the river Orontes, which flows by that city.